A Longford Westmeath TD has confirmed that he is aware of three properties which he omitted to register officially as having an interest in.
Minister of State Robert Troy last week explained that he had in error failed to declare to sale of a property in Mullingar to Westmeath County Council in 2018.
It was subsequently reported this week that a house which was sold by the Ballynacargy native in 2019 in Longford to the local authority was also not on the register of interests.
In a statement to Shannonside FM, the Ballinacarrigy native confirmed that he had "been under the impression that only property in (his) possession on 31st December of the registerable year was to be registered and not properties sold during that year.
He acknowledges that three properties have been omitted or partially omitted due to his error: Ashfield in Mullingar which was declared from 2011 - 2017 and excluded in 2018, a property in Longford Town, Ash Lawn, which was bought, renovated and sold in 2019 and not registered for that year, and Oak Crest in Mullingar which was declared in 2019 and excluded in 2020.
He now intends to notify SIPO as well as the clerk of the Dail to amend the records is reviewing all (his) Members' Interests returns since he was elected to the Dáil in 2011.
The full statement from Deputy Troy is below:
"Last week I became aware of an error I had made on my returns to the Register of Members’ Interests. I had been under the impression only property in my possession on 31st December of the registerable year was to be registered and not properties sold during that year. This was my error, and I immediately contacted the Clerk of the Dáil and subsequently SIPO to clarify the requirements and to notify my intent to amend the Register of Members’ Interests.
“In light of this, I am in the process of reviewing all my Members’ Interests returns since I was elected to the Dáil in 2011. I am aware of three properties that have been omitted or partially omitted due to my error: Ashfield in Mullingar which was declared from 2011 – 2017 and excluded in 2018, a property in Longford Town, Ash Lawn, which was bought, renovated and sold in 2019 and not registered for that year, and Oak Crest in Mullingar which was declared in 2019 and excluded in 2020.
“In my contact with SIPO it was confirmed to me there is no requirement to disclose the sale of a house under contracts to a public body. I intend to amend and update the Register this week to correct inaccuracies.”
